Last Updated on April 8, 2022 by Local Trainer
Upper Body Fitness for Seniors
Upper Body Strength is probably one of the most common areas of concern we get from new active aging clients at 50 all the way to 80 plus years of age.
Everyone is noticing that they need good upper body strength to continue to thrive and do well in this world.
Some folks feel as though they’ve lost a bit and others are concerned they’ve lost more than just a little bit with everything from reaching for something on a high shelf to push ups becoming more difficult in their daily lives.
Sometimes our legs hang in there a bit better but if we don’t use them too, our lower body strength can also fade.
Luckily, there’s hope and guidance to get you back on track if you’re noticing any lack of upper body power and energy.
How to Start An Upper Body Strength Program
The super simple tip to keep your upper body muscles is to start a basic program to train the muscles that aren’t as strong as they used to be.
Don’t worry if you feel as though you’re too old or too weak or any of those reasons that creep into your head when debating trying a new program. Just get something started.
The next step is to start something very gently. As we age, it’s important to start things more slowly. It seems counterintuitive but it’s actually the proper (and much safer) way to do things.
- Start with less intensity (below 40% of max heart rate).
- Use books, soup cans or very light 1-3lb dumbbells (buy them at Walmart, they have great pricing).
- Try 1 set, then wait a day or two to see how your body feels and recovers.
